Largo, Maryland

Largo, Maryland
Census-designated place
Downtown Largo station in Downtown Largo
Location of Largo, Maryland
Coordinates: 38°52′37″N76°49′50″W / 38.87694°N 76.83056°W / 38.87694; -76.83056
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Prince George's
Named for	Largo Bay, Scotland [1]
Area [2]
• Total	3.06 sq mi (7.93 km2)
• Land	3.06 sq mi (7.93 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	174 ft (53 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,605
• Density	3,790.01/sq mi (1,463.43/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	20774
Area code(s)	301, 240
FIPS code	24-45825
GNIS feature ID	0597664

Lake Largo is located in Upper Marlboro's neighborhood of Largo.

Largo, located within Greater Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. ^[3] The population was 11,605 at the 2020 census. ^[4]

Largo is located just east of the Capital Beltway (I-95/495) and is home to Prince George's Community College and Largo High School. Six Flags America amusement park (formerly known as Wild World and Adventure World) is to the east in Woodmore, and FedExField, the Washington Commanders's stadium, is across the Capital Beltway in Summerfield. Watkins Regional Park in Kettering just to the east of Largo (operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission) has an old-fashioned carousel, miniature train ride, miniature golf, the Old Maryland Farm, a playground, and animals on display. ^[5] Largo is not a post office designation, but is at the northern end of the Greater Upper Marlboro ZIP code area.

Since the transit system's expansion in late 2004, Downtown Largo station has served as the eastern end of the Blue and Silver Lines of the Washington Metro.

History

Largo was named after the Largo Plantation that was owned by the Beall family. The plantation is believed to be named after Largo Bay in Scotland. It was sold to John Contee in 1745. ^[6]

Arelis R. Hernández of The Washington Post stated in 2015 that "There has been talk for decades of relocating the [Prince George's County] government to Largo". ^[7] In 2015 Rushern Baker, the county executive, expressed a desire to move the county seat from Upper Marlboro to Largo since the latter has a more central location and access to the Washington Metro network. A spokesperson for Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., the President of the Maryland Senate, expressed opposition to this idea. ^[7]

Transportation

The WMATA (Washington Area Transit Authority), Blue and Silver Lines eastern terminus is Downtown Largo station. Downtown Largo Station is served by several regional bus routes operated by both WMATA and Prince Georges County's The Bus.

Geography

Largo is located at 38°52′37″N76°49′50″W / 38.87694°N 76.83056°W / 38.87694; -76.83056 (38.876850, −76.830651). ^[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.8 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1980	5,557		—
1990	9,475		70.5%
2000	8,408		−11.3%
2010	10,709		27.4%
2020	11,605		8.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 2010 [10] 2020 [11]

2020 census

Largo CDP, Maryland – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010 [10]	Pop 2020 [11]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	309	232	2.89%	2.00%
Black or African American alone (NH)	9,691	10,134	90.49%	87.32%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	31	25	0.29%	0.22%
Asian alone (NH)	194	189	1.81%	1.63%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	1	0.00%	0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	15	68	0.14%	0.59%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	192	421	1.79%	3.63%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	277	535	2.59%	4.61%
Total	10,709	11,605	100.00%	100.00%

2000 Census

As of the census ^[12] of 2000, there were 8,408 people, 3,471 households, and 2,127 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,758.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,065.2/km²). There were 3,709 housing units at an average density of 1,217.0 per square mile (469.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 4.27% White, 92.69% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.

There were 3,471 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.3% were married couples living together, 22.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. Of all households 31.9% were made up of individuals, and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $58,130, and the median income for a family was $70,421. Males had a median income of $40,067 versus $37,417 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $26,312. About 3.2% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

Even though the county seat is in Upper Marlboro, multiple agencies of the Government of Prince George's County, including the majority of the county's executive branch, reside in Largo. In the 1990s the PG County government purchased some properties and leased others, and county administrative functions were moved to Largo. ^[7] Circa 2010, ^[13] five PG County agencies were headquartered in these properties in Largo. Beginning in 2011, four additional county agencies relocated to Largo, and the county government acquired at least eight parcels of land and/or buildings. As of 2015 ^[update] County Executive Baker held his "Citizen Day" in Largo instead of Upper Marlboro. ^[7]

Prince George's County Police Department District 2 Station in Brock Hall CDP, with a Bowie postal address, serves the community. ^[14]

The U.S. Postal Service operates the Largo Post Office in Lake Arbor CDP, with a Largo postal address. ^{[15] [16]}

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Largo is a part of the Prince George's County Public Schools. ^[17] Residents are divided between Arrowhead, Kettering, and Lake Arbor elementary schools. ^[18] Most areas are zoned to Kettering Middle School while some are zoned to Ernest Everett Just Middle School. ^[19] All areas in Largo are zoned to Largo High School. ^[20]

Divine Peace Lutheran School is a K-8 Christian school of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Largo. ^[21]

High Road Upper School, Largo MD

Post-secondary education

The community is also home to Prince George's Community College, serving a county population of 850,000 residents.

Public libraries

Largo is served by the Largo-Kettering Branch of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) and is the headquarters location for PGCMLS. ^{[22] [23]} The library headquarters, previously adjacent to the Hyattsville Branch, ^[24] moved to Largo in 2015. ^[25]

Notable people

• Wale Folarin, Rapper
• Usama Young, Former American football safety
• Oddisee, Rapper
• Albert Wynn, former Congressman. ^[26]
• Q Da Fool, rapper ^[27]
• Rico Nasty, rapper
• Tramell Tillman, actor ^[28]
• redveil, rapper

References

1. "ePodunk". www.epodunk.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Largo, Maryland
4. "Largo CDP, Maryland". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved April 15, 2022.
5. "Watkins Regional Park". Archived from the original on June 25, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
6. "RootsWeb.com Home Page" (PDF). freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
7. Hernández, Arelis R. (July 22, 2015). "Baker wants to move government headquarters to Largo, lawmakers say". Washington Post . Retrieved September 11, 2018.
8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
9. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
10. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Largo CDP, Maryland". United States Census Bureau .
11. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Largo CDP, Maryland". United States Census Bureau .
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
13. Spivack, Miranda S. (September 14, 2010). "Rushern Baker wins Prince George's executive race". Washington Post . Retrieved September 11, 2018.
14. "District 2 Station - Bowie." Prince George's County Police Department. Retrieved on September 9, 2018. "District 2 Station - Bowie 601 SW Crain Highway Bowie, MD 20715 ". Beat map. 2010 U.S. Census Bureau index map of Brock Hall CDP as well as the detail on Page 1.
15. "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Lake Arbor CDP, MD." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 1, 2018. Pages: 1 and 2.
16. "LARGO." U.S. Postal Service. Retrieved on September 11, 2018. "9801 APOLLO DR UPPER MARLBORO, MD 20774-9997" - See: "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Lake Arbor CDP, MD." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 1, 2018.
17. "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Largo CDP, MD." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on August 28, 2018.
18. "NEIGHBORHOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019." Prince George's County Public Schools. Retrieved on August 28, 2018.
19. "NEIGHBORHOOD MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019." Prince George's County Public Schools. Retrieved on August 28, 2018.
20. "NEIGHBORHOOD HIGH SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019." Prince George's County Public Schools. Retrieved on August 28, 2018.
21. "Excellent Education Empowered by Christ".
22. "Largo-Kettering Branch." Prince George's County Memorial Library System. Retrieved on August 29, 2018. "Largo-Kettering Branch 9601 Capital Lane Largo, MD 20774"
23. "Prince George's County Memorial Library System grid.473433.4". GRID. August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
24. "Hyattsville." Prince George's County Memorial Library System. January 1, 2004. Retrieved on September 20, 2018. "Hyattsville Address: 6530 Adelphi Rd. Hyattsville, MD 20782 and "Administrative Offices : 6532 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782-209"
25. "BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES MEETING June 9, 2015–7:30 p.m. Oxon Hill Branch." Prince George's County Public Library. Retrieved on September 20, 2018. p. 2/5.
26. Barone, Michael; Ujifusa, Grant (1999). The Almanac of American Politics 2000. National Journal Group Inc. p. 753.
27. Chris Richards (July 3, 2018). "Here's why Q Da Fool is in a particularly good mood". The Washington Post .
28. Samson, Pete (March 10, 2022). "Severance Star Tramell Tillman Talks Work/Life Balance". Mr Feelgood . Retrieved April 17, 2022. I grew up in Largo, Maryland, which is a suburb outside of Washington DC.

External links

• Largo (Maryland) travel guide from Wikivoyage